England's Australian head coach Wayne Bennett will come up against his homeland in the opening game of the Rugby League World Cup next year.

Bennett was in April appointed as Steve McNamara's successor and will lead England when they take on his country of birth in the opening game of the tournament in Melbourne on October 27.

Holders Australia will also take on France and the minnows of Lebanon in Pool A, while co-hosts New Zealand start their tournament with a Pool B encounter against Samoa the following day.

The Kiwis, runners-up in the last World Cup in England three years ago, have also been drawn to take on Scotland and Tonga in Pool B.

Papua New Guinea, the other host nation, will have to wait to discover which country qualifies to face them in their opening match in Port Moresby on October 28, while Fiji will start with a clash against the United States in Townsville on the same day.